Match book



July 16, 1957 T. V.ILYNCH' MATCH-BOOK Filed 4m 26, 1955' INVENTOR moms u LYNCH BY ATTORNEY United States This invention relates generally to match books and more particularly to a match book structure enabling it to be attached to various supports and to particularly cooperate with a cigarette package, etc.

Match books of this general type are known in the art and as a Whole, are characterized by a number of objectionable features. Among these are an inherent inability to become firmly attached to an object so as to result in the inadvertent loss of the match book, a costly and unnecessarily complicated manner of attachment of the matches so as to be impractical in use, the need for wetting or licking an attaching tab or surface which is in itself distasteful, and when the matchbook is to be' attached to a cigarette pack, a failure of the book to lie snugly against the pack resulting in an undesirable and unsightly bulkiness.

Accordingly, the chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved book match structure which will obviate the above and other objectionable features characterizing known structures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved match book structure which is readily attachable to a support and securely retained thereon by both mechanical and adhesive means.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved match book structure which may snugly be attached to a cigarette package without requiring separate attaching means or increasing the bulkiness of the combination.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved match book structure which includes a novel tab and adhesive connecting means of increased holding power for attaching it to cigarette packages which does not interfere with the advertising presented on the front of the match book.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved match book structure adapted to be attached to cigarette packages which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In its broadest aspects, the present invention contemplates a match book package which is provided with separate mechanical and adhesive attaching means which so cooperate as to enable the ready and secure attachment of the match book to a support such as the side of a cigarette package.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure l is a perspective view of the match book comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the tab pulled out from the body of the match book;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the match book attached to a cigarette package; and

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, numeral indicates as a "atent ice whole the matchgbook comprising the present invention ing surface 12, a rear panel 14, a top portion 16 and a front panel 18, which may bear advertising material and whose lower edge is inserted behind the striking surface 12 when in the closed position about the matches M.

The rear panel 14 is provided with an attaching tab 20 which is conveniently cut therein before the forming of the match book, by conventional die cutters. The tab 20 is generally triangular in configuration and its base terminates short of the top portion 16 for a purpose to be described. The outer portion of the tab terminates short of what would be the apex so as to form a notch 22 to enable the insertion of the finger nail. The tab 20 may thus be readily pulled outwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 for insertion between the cellophane wrapping and the, paper wrapping of a cigarette package as will be described.

The inner face of the rear panel 14 is provided with a horizontal strip 24 of pressure sensitive adhesive tape which projects across the lower half of the opening 26 formed by pulling the tab 20 outwardly. The tab 20 is coated on its inner surface with a high temperature melting point wax 27 which prevents its adherence to the adhesive tape 24 prior to its use as an attaching device.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the match book 10 is readily and securely attachable to a cigarette package P to form a unitary combination package. As is well known, a conventional cigarette package includes a tear strip in its cellophane, etc. wrapping 28 so that the upper end thereof may be readily removed to provide access to the cigarettes upon the tearing away of the paper wrapping 30, usually from either side of the tax stamp on the top end of the package.

The match book 10 may be attached to either side of the cigarette package P as soon as the cellophane top has been removed by the conventional tear strip. As shown, the finger nail is inserted in the notch 22 and the tab 20 is pulled a short distance outwardly of the panel 14. The tab is then inserted between the cellophane wrapping 23 and the paper wrapping 30 and the match book 10 pushed down until the upper edge of the cellophane wrapping 28 engages the upper ends of the inverted generally triangular cut forming the tab 20.

The match book 10 is now pressed against the side of the cigarette package P which forces the tab 20 towards its original position of Figure 1, thus pushing the cellophane wrapping 28 between it and the match book rear panel 14 firmly into engagement with the pressure sensitive adhesive on the tape 24.

The match book 10 is thus firmly attached to the cigarette package P and will not turn with respect thereto nor slide therefrom. This holding action is insured by the threefold forces urging the tab 20 back into alignment with the plane of the rear panel 14. The tab is, of course, closely confined between the cellophane and paper wrappings 28 and 30 in which position the weight of the match pack exerts onevforce, the bulk of the cigarettes within the package a second force, and the natural tendency of the tab as a part of the panel 14 to assume an unstressed position, a third force. The third force is, of course, due to the termination of the slots of the tab terminating short of the top 16.

It will thus be readily apparent that the novel match book 10 comprising the present invention enables it to be firmly and readily attached to a surface and retained thereon by adhesive and mechanical forces inherent in its Structure and in its cooperation with that surface as exemplified in its cooperation with a cigarette package.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in '1. A-match book comprising a pack of matches and a cover therefor fixed thereto including front, rear and top panels, cuts formed in said rear panel and defining a downwardly projecting tab therein adapted to, be lifted away from the plane of said rear panel, the resistance to bending of said tab acting to return it to the plane of said panel whereby material may be clamped between said tab and said panel, and adhesive tape fixed to the inner face of said rear panel and spanning the opening formed by said outwardly lifted tab to adhesively engage the material when the latter is moved thereagainst through said opening by said tab. 7

2. A match book comprising pack of matches and a cover therefor fixed thereto including front, rear, and top panels, a tab formed in said rear panel and adapted to be bent outwardly therefrom and leave an opening therein, and adhesive tape fixed to the inside of said panel and spanning said opening whereby material may be clamped by pressure on said tab between said tab and said rear panel against said tape and retained therebetween by said tape.

3. A match book comprising a pack of matches and a cover therefor fixed thereto including front, rear, and top panels, a tab formed in said .rear panel and adapted to bebent outwardly therefrom and leave an opening therein, and adhesive tape fixed to the inside of said panel and spanning said opening whereby material may be clamped by pressure on said tab between said tab and said rear panel against said tape and retained therebetween by said tape, said tab being generally triangular in shape and of maximum width adjacent said rear panel to obtain a maximum of clamping effect on the material.

4. A match book comprising a pack of matches and a cover therefor fixed thereto including front, rear, and top panels, a tab formed in said rear panel and adapted to be bent outwardly therefrom and leave an opening therein. and tacky adhesive tape fixed to the inside of said panel and spanning said opening whereby material may be clamped by pressure on said tab between said tab and said rear panel against said tape and retained therebetween by said tape, said tab including a coating on its rear face to prevent its adhesion to said tape.

5. The combination with a package of cigarettes having the top portion of an outer wrapper removed, of a match book including a tab fixed thereto, said tab being 'bent outwardly from the rear panel of said match book and inserted between said outer wrapper and an inner wrapper of said cigarette package to be clamped therebetween and an adhesive tape fixed to the inner surface of said rear panel and spanning the opening formed by said outwardly bent tab, said tab when clamped between said wrappers acting to press said outer wrapper within said opening against said adhesive tape to be held thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,189 Pauli Oct. 9, 1934 2,001,798 Schreiber May 21, 1935 2,188,779 Roehrl Jan. 30, 1940 2,323,342 McManus et al July 6, 1943 

